How the Bachelor's and Master's Thesis Works in Germany

There is no single thesis process in Germany. Your Bachelor or Master thesis follows the rules of your own Prüfungsordnung (examination regulation), your faculty, your supervisor and your Prüfungsamt (examination office), and these differ between universities. Below: the general framework, real examples from 10 German universities and faculties, and a practical process.

Last updated: September 2026 · Thesis rules vary by university, faculty and examination regulations. · Official rule = taken from a law or an official regulation; Practical advice = our experience-based recommendation · Examples checked across 10 German universities/faculties (September 2026); this is not a universal rule.

#What a Bachelorarbeit and a Masterarbeit are

Official rule: The KMK (Standing Conference of Education Ministers) model ordinance of November 2024 sets the frame: every Bachelor and Master programme includes a thesis in which you show that you can work on a problem in your subject independently, with scientific methods, within a set period. The Bachelor thesis is worth 6–12 ECTS, the Master thesis 15–30 ECTS (with exceptions for fine arts) [1].

Key terms:

• Bachelorarbeit / Masterarbeit: the Bachelor's / Master's thesis.
• Betreuer/in: your supervisor.
• Prüfer/in, Erstprüfer/in, Zweitprüfer/in: examiner, first examiner, second examiner.
• Prüfungsamt: the examination office that registers the thesis, records deadlines and receives the submission.
• Prüfungsausschuss: the examination board that often decides on applications such as extensions or external theses.
• Bearbeitungszeit: the official working time between issue of the topic and the deadline.
• Abgabe: submission.
• Kolloquium / Disputation: an oral presentation or defence of your thesis.
• Sperrvermerk: a blocking notice that restricts access to a confidential thesis.
• Eidesstattliche Versicherung / Eigenständigkeitserklärung: a sworn declaration or a declaration of independent work that you sign.
• Exposé: a short research proposal outlining question, method and plan.

#The first document to read: your Prüfungsordnung

Official rule: There is no federal thesis rule. The rules come in layers: the state higher-education law (Landeshochschulgesetz), then the state accreditation ordinance based on the KMK model, then your university's general examination regulation, and finally your programme's own Prüfungsordnung [1]. The general regulation (names vary, for example APSO at TUM, ÜPO at RWTH or RSPO at FU Berlin) sets the frame; the programme regulation fills in details such as credit prerequisites and working time.

Practical advice: Find both documents under "Amtliche Bekanntmachungen" (official announcements) or on your programme page, and check which version applies to you. Then read the faculty's thesis guidelines and Prüfungsamt leaflets. Your Prüfungsordnung, faculty guidance and supervisor instructions prevail. This article gives examples, not a substitute.

#When you can start the thesis

Official rule: Many programmes require credits before you can register. Examples:

• RWTH Aachen, B.Sc. Informatik: 120 CP plus compulsory modules; for any RWTH Master thesis, the module "Wissenschaftliche Integrität" (scientific integrity) [9].
• TU Berlin, B.Sc. Informatik: 120 LP [10].
• KIT Informatik: 120 LP (B.Sc.) or 60 LP (M.Sc.) [11].
• Goethe Frankfurt, B.Sc. Wirtschaftswissenschaften: orientation phase plus 18 CP plus a seminar [13].
• Universität zu Köln, WiSo: 100 LP for the B.Sc. BWL, 60 LP for most WiSo Masters [14].
• LMU, B.Sc. Informatik: the module P 16.1 [8].

At TUM, the prerequisite is set by the programme; in the Informatics M.Sc., the thesis is normally the last exam [7]. In other programmes, you may still take courses in parallel; check your regulation.

#How to find a topic

Topics usually come from three directions:

• Your own proposal that fits a chair's research area.
• Advertised topics on chair websites or topic exchanges, for example TUM's "Themenbörse".
• Research groups and companies, for example via a HiWi (student assistant) job or a company project.

Practical advice: Start looking one or two semesters before registering, and read recent theses from your target chair to understand the expected scope. Overly broad topics are a common reason theses run late.

Official rule: In most of the institutions we examined, the topic can be returned once within an early window. But this right does not exist in every programme; for example, in the Köln WiSo example we could not verify such a free return right. Examples: LMU Informatik and Uni Hamburg WiSo (within 2 weeks, at Hamburg with a reason), TH Köln (within 2 weeks, without a reason), KIT (in the first month).

#How to find a supervisor

Practical advice: Approach professors whose courses you took or whose research matches your interest, after checking the chair's website for its thesis process. Contact them two to three months before registering. Keep the email short:

Subject: Master thesis inquiry – [topic area]

Dear Professor [Name],

I am a Master's student in [programme] at [university] and have completed [relevant course]. I am interested in writing my Master thesis in the area of [topic] and would like to ask whether you supervise theses in this area in [semester]. I have attached a one-page outline and my transcript.

Kind regards, [Name], [student ID]

No answer after one to two weeks? Follow up once, or ask a research assistant at the chair.

#Betreuer, Prüfer and Prüfungsamt: who does what

Your Betreuer guides the work, your Prüfer grade it, and the Prüfungsamt handles the administration.

Official rule: The number of graders differs. At TUM, the thesis is graded by the person who set the topic, and a second examiner is involved only if it would fail [7]. LMU Informatik works the same way [8]. RWTH, TU Berlin, KIT, Uni Hamburg WiSo, Goethe Frankfurt WiWi, Köln WiSo, TH Köln and FU Berlin BWL use two examiners.

#Registering your thesis

Official rule: Registration makes your thesis official. Depending on the institution, it runs through an online portal or a form signed by you and your supervisor. The Prüfungsamt then records the topic and the issue date, which sets your deadline.

Practical advice: Before registering, confirm the exact title, language, examiners, and whether you need an approval for an external or company thesis. Keep the confirmation showing your deadline.

#When the Bearbeitungszeit starts

Official rule: In the institutions we examined, the official working time runs from the recorded issue date of the topic, not from the day you started reading. Goethe Frankfurt WiWi explicitly forbids working on the thesis before the topic is officially recorded [13]. The other institutions we examined do not regulate this point explicitly.

Practical advice: Reading and drafting an exposé before registration is common, but clarify with your supervisor what is acceptable in your programme.

#Working with your supervisor

Practical advice: Agree early on an exposé, a meeting rhythm (for example every two to four weeks), how you share drafts and what feedback to expect. Summarize each meeting in a short email.

Official rule: Some faculties formalize this: at Universität zu Köln WiSo, theses starting from 1 October 2025 require mandatory progress documentation [14].

#Sources, citation and plagiarism

Official rule: The German Research Foundation (DFG) Code of good research practice requires citing original sources, treats plagiarism and fabrication as scientific misconduct, and links authorship to a genuine contribution [2].

You will sign a declaration, named differently by institution: an "Eidesstattliche Versicherung / Versicherung an Eides statt" (sworn declaration), for example at Uni Hamburg WiSo, Köln WiSo and RWTH, or an "Eigenständigkeitserklärung / Selbstständigkeitserklärung" (declaration of independent work), for example at Goethe Frankfurt, TU Berlin and FU Berlin. Whether it is a formal affidavit depends on the federal state. In North Rhine-Westphalia, universities may take affidavits, so a false one can be a criminal offense under § 156 StGB; NRW also allows fines of up to €50,000 for deliberate cheating and exmatriculation for repeated or serious cases [4][5].

Plagiarism or cheating typically means "nicht bestanden" (failed, 5.0); serious or repeated cases can lead to exmatriculation. Uni Hamburg's 2025 guidance treats ghostwriting as usually a particularly serious deception, while unauthorised AI use alone is not automatically a particularly serious case [17]. A degree can be revoked later if cheating is discovered, within time limits set by the regulation.

Practical advice: Use a reference manager from day one and agree on one citation style.

#AI and ChatGPT in your thesis

AI is neither banned nor freely allowed across Germany. Your Prüfungsordnung, faculty guidance and supervisor instructions prevail. The common trend in the institutions we examined is transparent disclosure of the AI tools used and full responsibility of the student for the content. But the binding rule varies by university, faculty, Prüfungsordnung and supervisor.

Official rule: Concrete examples:

• TU Berlin: the declaration asks for product name, manufacturer, version and type of use; documenting prompts or chats is recommended [10].
• Goethe Frankfurt WiWi: your own contribution must predominate, AI-assisted parts are marked, idea generation is disclosed, and you list tools, version, use and affected parts in an AI directory. Spell-checkers, reference managers and statistics software need no mention [13].
• KIT Informatik: spelling, grammar and translation tools need no disclosure; other generative AI use must be disclosed (purpose, parts, models) and agreed with the supervisor in advance [11].
• RWTH: no uniform marking rule, but the affidavit explicitly covers "software and services for language, text and media production" [9].
• TH Köln: disclosure "in principle yes"; generating whole texts or substantial parts is not permitted; clarify with your lecturers [20].
• Uni Hamburg: the framework allows generative AI in unsupervised work in principle, but unmarked non-trivial AI parts are not allowed and tools must be listed [12].

The DFG statement on generative models, aimed at researchers rather than student exams, makes the same core point: using AI does not release authors from responsibility, and only natural persons can be authors [3]. Undisclosed or unauthorised use is treated as cheating in several institutions. AI tools can also produce non-existent sources and hidden plagiarism [21]. Detector software is only supporting evidence; at Goethe Frankfurt, a suspicion leads to a hearing or oral check.

Proofreading and language correction are often treated differently from generated content (KIT and Uni Leipzig are examples), but this varies. Uni Leipzig suggests adding the prompts you used as an appendix [21].

Practical advice:

• Keep a log of the tools, versions and prompts you use and what you did with the output.
• Check every reference yourself in the original source.
• Never enter personal, confidential, company or copyrighted data into public AI tools.
• Ask your supervisor in writing what is allowed before you start, and save the answer.

#Writing your thesis in a company

Official rule: In the institutions we examined, academic authority stays with the university: a university examiner sets or approves the topic and grades the thesis, while the company supervisor may advise or suggest but does not set the grade (for example Goethe Frankfurt, LMU Informatik, TUM, RWTH). It usually needs approval of the board or chair (Frankfurt, TH Köln, KIT; at RWTH only exceptionally). At TUM, a company thesis is possible only with a TUM examiner [7]; at FU Berlin, only if the programme regulation allows it.

Pay and social insurance: a student who only writes the thesis in a company is generally not an employee. If you also do productive work for the company, normal employment rules apply. See our guide on HiWi vs. Werkstudent jobs and on how Werkstudent experience shapes your job market chances.

The 140-day question (non-EU students): there is no federal general rule. International offices such as Uni Potsdam's state that a company thesis counts as part of your studies and does not use your 140-day account [19]. Practical advice: confirm with your Ausländerbehörde (immigration office) before you start, and remember that extra productive work counts as employment. If you are combining a job with the thesis, see our FAQ on working full time while writing a thesis.

#NDA, Sperrvermerk and intellectual property

Official rule: A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is a private contract between you and the company. It must not prevent examiners, including in appeal procedures, from reading and verifying the thesis; professors are bound to confidentiality anyway under § 203 StGB [18]. At Köln WiSo, you must disclose an NDA to the topic setter before the topic is set [14].

Sperrvermerk rules vary. Köln WiSo allows one with conditions; publication then needs consent. At TH Köln, one faculty requires the marking on every copy. At TU Berlin, Informatik and Computer Science do not allow a Sperrvermerk or confidentiality beyond usual discretion [10].

Copyright: you are the author; a company gets usage rights only by contract. Inventions: students not employed by the university are "free inventors" [22]. If you are employed by the company, for example as a Werkstudent, employee-invention law may apply, so check your contract. Never put company data into public AI tools.

#Thesis language

Official rule: German or English is common. Other languages usually require approval, requested in advance. Some institutions require a German summary, for example Goethe Frankfurt WiWi for English theses and TU Berlin when the thesis is not in the programme's teaching language.

Practical advice: Settle the language with your supervisor before registration.

#Submission

Official rule: Submission formats vary. It is digital-only in some institutions we examined (TUM, RWTH, Uni Hamburg WiSo, Köln WiSo) and requires bound copies in others (Goethe Frankfurt WiWi, FU Berlin BWL, TH Köln, LMU, and TU Berlin unless both examiners agree to electronic submission). You attach or upload the signed declaration. If you miss the deadline without an accepted reason, the thesis is typically graded as failed (5.0).

Practical advice: Plan printing and binding time, keep two backups, submit a few days early and keep a receipt.

#Colloquium and defence

Official rule: An oral part is mandatory in some institutions we examined, for example RWTH, KIT, LMU (Disputation worth 3/5 ECTS) and TH Köln (about 30 minutes, 3 LP, graded, held once the thesis is rated at least 4.0, the pass mark). Elsewhere it depends on the programme: at TUM, the Informatics M.Sc. has an ungraded presentation; at Köln WiSo, only some programmes have one; at Uni Hamburg WiSo, it is not required.

Practical advice: Fit your talk to the set time, anticipate questions on method and limitations, and rehearse.

#Grading

Official rule: With two examiners, several institutions add a third if the grades differ strongly. Examples: RWTH, if they are more than 2.0 apart or one says pass and the other fail; Köln WiSo, if they are more than 1.0 apart or one gives a 5.0; TH Köln, if they are 2.0 or more apart. Grading periods are set by some regulations, for example 6 weeks for a Bachelor and 3 months for a Master at Uni Hamburg WiSo, and 6 weeks at Goethe Frankfurt WiWi. Use our grade converter to see how German grades translate.

#If the thesis fails

Official rule: Most institutions we examined allow one repeat; at TUM and Goethe Frankfurt, with a new topic. At Uni Hamburg WiSo, a second repeat is possible only in exceptional cases. TU Berlin's rules allow two repeats. At Köln WiSo, a failed repeat means final failure. Final failure usually leads to exmatriculation, which can affect your residence permit. Read our guide on Exmatrikulation, residence permit and coming back, and see our Exmatrikulation template.

Practical advice: If your thesis is at risk, talk to your supervisor and student counseling early; our article on loneliness and mental health lists support options.

#Illness and extensions

Official rule: Examples:

• TUM: up to half the working time for reasons beyond your control; a medical certificate pauses the clock [7].
• RWTH: +4 weeks (Bachelor) / +6 weeks (Master) on reasoned application [9].
• KIT: +1 month / +3 months [11].
• Uni Hamburg WiSo: +2 weeks / +3 weeks, more only in exceptional hardship, with a qualified medical certificate [12].
• Goethe Frankfurt: max. +50%, in WiWi max. 32 days [13].
• TU Berlin: for the duration of the obstacle, capped by the programme; illness certificate within 5 days [10].
• FU Berlin BWL: by the period of proven illness, with a certificate from a public health officer ("amtsärztliches Attest") [16].
• TH Köln: max. +2 weeks; with longer illness you can withdraw and restart with a new topic without losing an attempt [15].
• LMU Informatik: not regulated explicitly in the PStO; ask the exam office.

Practical advice: Apply before the deadline, not after. For a longer break, consider a leave semester; see our guide to the Urlaubssemester.

#Graduation and your residence permit

Official rule: In most of the institutions we examined, the certificate date is tied to the last exam or last assessment; details vary by university and programme. Stay enrolled as your university requires: at TUM until submission, at Goethe Frankfurt throughout the process; at Uni Köln, if you take your last exam in the current semester, you don't need to re-register for the next.

After successful completion, § 20 AufenthG allows a residence permit for job search of up to 18 months, during which any work is allowed; it cannot be extended [6]. You need proof of completion; apply before your current permit expires. See our job seeker visa guide and the Zweckwechsel guide. See also the German job market after graduation.

#10 universities compared

These examples refer to specific programmes or examination regulations. Your own Prüfungsordnung may differ.

Documents checked September 2026; TU Berlin based on the Prüfungsamt guidance 03/2026; Frankfurt based on the Prüfungsamt leaflet 03/2026.

Institution types differ too; see Hochschule vs. Universität vs. FH.

#Example timeline

Practical advice: An example process with rough timing; your deadlines come from your regulation.

1. Read your Prüfungsordnung and faculty guidelines (two semesters before).
2. Check your credit prerequisites (one to two semesters before).
3. Choose a topic area.
4. Contact potential supervisors (2–3 months before registration).
5. Write a short exposé and agree on it (1–2 months before).
6. Clarify company approval, NDA and IP if relevant.
7. Agree on language, examiners and AI rules.
8. Register the thesis and note the official deadline.
9. Set a meeting rhythm and start (week 1).
10. Build your literature base (first weeks).
11. Log AI tools, sources and progress (throughout).
12. Share a full draft for feedback (about two-thirds in).
13. Revise, format, sign the declaration (last 2–3 weeks).
14. Submit early and keep the receipt.
15. Prepare the colloquium, then graduation and residence steps.

#Four student scenarios

#Bachelor thesis in an academic setting

• Check first: credit prerequisite, working time, topic-return window.
• Talk to: the chair whose course you liked most.
• Prepare: a one-page idea and your transcript.
• Biggest risk: a topic too broad for the working time.

#Master thesis with a research group

• Check first: whether a colloquium is mandatory and how grading works.
• Talk to: the professor and the research assistant supervising day to day.
• Prepare: an exposé and relevant course or HiWi experience.
• Biggest risk: unclear expectations; agree on scope in writing. Considering research? Read about doing a PhD in Germany.

#Master thesis in a company

• Check first: whether company theses are allowed and need approval.
• Talk to: a university examiner first, then the company, and your Ausländerbehörde about the 140 days.
• Prepare: NDA and Sperrvermerk rules, IP and pay questions.
• Biggest risk: company goals overriding academic requirements. See also internships in Germany.

#Final semester with a tight graduation date

• Check first: how your certificate date is set and enrolment rules.
• Talk to: the Prüfungsamt about grading times and the colloquium date.
• Prepare: a buffer for grading and your residence permit expiry date.
• Biggest risk: your permit expiring before you have proof of completion.

#Checklist

Before registration:

• Read your Prüfungsordnung and faculty guidelines
• Confirm eligibility (credits, modules)
• Find a supervisor and examiners
• Agree on the topic and exposé
• Settle the thesis language
• Get external/company approval if needed
• Check NDA and IP

After registration:

• Note the official deadline
• Agree on a meeting rhythm
• Build your literature base
• Use one citation style consistently
• Back up your files daily
• Document AI use
• Check formatting requirements
• Check submission requirements

Before submission:

• Sign the declaration
• Run a plagiarism check if offered
• Check the file format
• Print and bind copies if required
• Upload to the correct portal
• Submit before the deadline
• Prepare for the colloquium

#FAQ

#How long does a Master thesis take in Germany?

It depends on your programme. In the institutions we examined, Master working times include 19 weeks (LMU Informatik), 26 weeks (TU Berlin Computer Science), 3–6 months (Goethe Frankfurt) and 6 months (TUM, KIT, Köln WiSo). Bachelor examples range from 9 weeks (Uni Hamburg WiSo, Goethe Frankfurt WiWi) to 20 weeks (TU Berlin). Your Prüfungsordnung sets your working time, which starts with the official issue date.

#Can I start writing before I register my thesis?

Reading and planning are common, but the official working time starts with the recorded issue date. Goethe Frankfurt WiWi explicitly forbids working on the thesis before the topic is officially recorded. The other institutions we examined do not regulate this explicitly. Clarify with your supervisor what is acceptable in your programme.

#Can I use ChatGPT for my thesis?

It depends on your university, faculty, Prüfungsordnung and supervisor. The common trend in the institutions we examined is transparent disclosure and full student responsibility for the content. KIT does not require disclosure of spelling or translation tools, while Frankfurt WiWi asks for an AI directory. Ask your supervisor in writing and keep a log.

#Do I get paid for a thesis in a company?

Pay depends on your agreement with the company. A student who only writes the thesis in a company is generally not an employee. If you also do productive work for the company, normal employment rules apply. Non-EU students should confirm with their Ausländerbehörde how the work is counted against the 140 days.

#What happens if I miss the thesis deadline?

If you miss the deadline without an accepted reason, the thesis is typically graded as failed (5.0). Most institutions we examined allow one repeat, and TU Berlin's rules allow two. If illness delays you, apply for an extension before the deadline with the certificate your regulation requires.

#Can I write my thesis in English?

In many programmes, yes. German and English are both common thesis languages. Some institutions require a German summary, for example Goethe Frankfurt WiWi and TU Berlin when the thesis is not in the teaching language. Other languages usually need approval requested in advance. Settle the language before registration.

#Sources

1. KMK, Musterrechtsverordnung (21 Nov 2024) — https://www.kmk.org/fileadmin/Dateien/veroeffentlichungen_beschluesse/2024/2024_11_21-Musterrechtsverordnung.pdf
2. DFG, Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Research Practice (Code v1.2, 2024) — https://www.dfg.de/de/grundlagen-themen/grundlagen-und-prinzipien-der-foerderung/gwp/kodex
3. DFG, Statement on generative models (2023) — https://www.dfg.de/resource/blob/289674/ff57cf46c5ca109cb18533b21fba49bd/230921-stellungnahme-praesidium-ki-ai-data.pdf
4. § 63 HG NRW — https://lexmea.de/de/gesetz/hg-nrw/63
5. § 156 StGB — https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stgb/__156.html
6. § 20 AufenthG — https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__20.html ; BAMF, graduates — https://www.bamf.de/EN/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/Arbeit/Hochschulabsolvent/hochschulabsolvent-node.html
7. TUM APSO (2011, as amended 2024) — https://www.edu.sot.tum.de/fileadmin/w00bed/edu/Documents/Studium/APSO/Lesb.F._APSO_vom_18.03.2011_mit_11._AES_vom_17.12.2024.pdf ; TUM thesis formalities — https://www.tum.de/en/studies/graduation/theses/formalities
8. LMU, PStO B.Sc. Informatik (2022) — https://cms-cdn.lmu.de/media/contenthub/amtliche-veroeffentlichungen/1569-16in-ba-nf60-2022-ps00.pdf
9. RWTH, Übergreifende Prüfungsordnung (as amended 2025) — https://www.rwth-aachen.de/global/show_document.asp?id=aaaaaaaaddqknak ; RWTH AI exam FAQ (2024) — https://cls.rwth-aachen.de/global/show_document.asp?id=aaaaaaaacocblkv
10. TU Berlin Prüfungsamt, Hinweise zur Erstellung von Bachelor- und Masterarbeiten (03/2026) — https://www.static.tu.berlin/fileadmin/www/10002461/Pruefungsamt/Formulare_Bescheide/Abschlussarbeit_Hinweise_03.26.pdf
11. KIT, SPO B.Sc. Informatik (2022) — https://www.sle.kit.edu/downloads/AmtlicheBekanntmachungen/2022_AB_034.pdf ; KIT Informatik, Leitfaden Generative KI — https://www.informatik.kit.edu/downloads/studium/Leitfaden_Generative_KI_Informatik.pdf
12. Uni Hamburg, PO WiSo B.Sc. (2024) — https://www.uni-hamburg.de/campuscenter/studienorganisation/ordnungen-satzungen/pruefungsordnungen/wirtschafts-und-sozialwissenschaften/20240508-po-wiso-bsc-82.pdf ; Orientierungsrahmen gKI (2025) — https://www.uni-hamburg.de/lehre-navi/lehrende/orientierungsrahmen-gki/orientierungsrahmen-gki.pdf
13. Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, B.Sc. Wirtschaftswissenschaften PO 2022 — https://www.wiwi.uni-frankfurt.de/fileadmin/studium/pruefungsorganisation/dateien/bsc_wirtschaftswissenschaften_po2022.pdf
14. Universität zu Köln, WiSo Gemeinsame Prüfungsordnung (2025) — https://wiso.uni-koeln.de/sites/fakultaet/dokumente/PA/po/GPO_2025.pdf
15. TH Köln, Rahmenprüfungsordnungen (2023) — https://www.th-koeln.de/mam/downloads/deutsch/hochschule/amtlichemitteilungen/inkraftsetzungssatzung_rpoen_2023_final.pdf ; TH Köln, Abschlussarbeiten — https://www.th-koeln.de/studium/abschlussarbeiten_5336.php
16. FU Berlin, Rahmenstudien- und -prüfungsordnung (2013) — https://www.fu-berlin.de/service/zuvdocs/amtsblatt/2013/ab322013.pdf
17. Universität Hamburg, Handreichung Nr. 15 Täuschung in der Prüfung (2025) — https://www.uni-hamburg.de/uhh/organisation/praesidialverwaltung/studium-und-lehre/qualitaet-und-recht/handreichungen/dateien/handreichung-15-taeuschung-in-der-pruefung.pdf
18. HS Emden/Leer, Merkblatt externe Abschlussarbeiten (2024) — https://www.hs-emden-leer.de/fileadmin/user_upload/sta/Dokumente/Allgemein/Merkblatt_externe_Abschlussarbeiten_V11.pdf
19. Universität Potsdam, Arbeiten für internationale Studierende (2026) — https://www.uni-potsdam.de/de/international/incoming/students/arbeiten
20. TH Köln, KI-Tools handout (Schreibzentrum) — https://www.th-koeln.de/mam/downloads/deutsch/studium/rundumsstudium/handout_ki-tools.pdf
21. Universität Leipzig, Kennzeichnung KI-generierter Inhalte — https://kb.el.uni-leipzig.de/books/generative-ki-in-der-hochschullehre/page/kennzeichnung-von-ki-generierten-inhalten
22. FU Berlin Technologietransfer, FAQ Arbeitnehmererfindungen — https://www.fu-berlin.de/forschung/technologietransfer/patente-und-lizenzen-01/faq/arbeitnehmer.html

Examples checked in September 2026 across 10 German universities/faculties; documents change — always check the current version of your own regulation. General information, not legal advice.